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| Alexander Karioth: MSc REIF 2024 |
The Real Estate Investment Finance (REIF) programme at Oxford Brookes has been designed for real estate professionals across all sectors, as well as fund managers and investment bankers who would like to gain a better understanding of real estate as a financial asset in an investment portfolio. The programme is delivered online and offers our students (many of whom are also working full-time) a flexible and innovative way to study. We have developed our use of digital media to bring together students from many different backgrounds and locations using our virtual learning platform as well as social media and webinars. The programme started in 2015 and now attracts students from across the world. This is great news for the REIF programme as students (and staff) from many different backgrounds and locations can come together online to share experiences and work practices.
I caught up with one of our alumni, Alexander Karioth who completed the MSc REIF in March 2024 to find out what he thought about the REIF programme:
What is your background?
Both my academic background and work experience were exclusively in hospitality. I began my journey with a three-year management trainee programme in hotel operations with “Kempinski”, a renowned luxury hotel brand. Recognising the need to complement my operational expertise with advanced managerial and leadership skills, I pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hotel Management. As my interest shifted towards the real estate side of the hospitality industry, I transitioned into hotel consulting, joining PKF hospitality group in Vienna. This marked the beginning of my career in hotel advisory, which continued through subsequent positions at CBRE in London, Ernst & Young in Munich, and JLL.
Why did you decide to do a course in REIF?
Given that my background was exclusively related to hotels, primarily focusing on valuation and advisory work, I sought to broaden my exposure to general real estate, encompassing all asset classes. Specifically, I wanted to deepen my understanding of the investment side of the industry.
Why did you choose the MSc REIF at Oxford Brookes?
I chose to pursue the MSc in Real Estate Investment Finance at Oxford Brookes University (OBU) for several compelling reasons. The programme's flexible structure, allowing for part-time and remote study, perfectly suited my professional commitments. The 16-month timeframe was the ideal balance between a comprehensive learning experience and timely completion of the course. Colleagues at CBRE London had highly recommended OBU as one of the most acclaimed institutions for real estate education in the UK, reinforcing my decision. Lastly, the programme's accreditation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) enabled a clear pathway to become a RICS-registered professional.
What did you gain from the course and how has it helped you in your career?
Although fully remote, I expanded my network within the industry. Consequently, both the hard and soft skills I acquired proved beneficial. Upon successfully passing my dissertation in June 2024 and officially graduating from Oxford Brookes University in September 2024, I transitioned into a new role within the Hotel Capital Markets/Investment Sales Team at JLL. This move marked a significant shift in my career, facilitating my transition from valuation and advisory services to investment brokerage. The knowledge and network I gained through my MSc programme proved instrumental in supporting this career progression.
What did you choose for your dissertation topic and why?
The key lesson from my Bachelor's thesis was to choose a topic that is both interesting and familiar. Following this advice, I focused on hotels, the asset class I know best, selecting a relevant and intriguing subject: "An investigation into environmental sustainability factors impacting hotel real estate investment in Europe". My research addressed a significant gap in the industry – the limited adoption of environmental sustainability in hotel real estate and the lack of standardised assessment criteria for existing investments and new acquisitions. Ultimately, the study identified the most relevant environmental sustainability factors relating to the regulatory and built environment, as well as hotel operations and developed a framework of standard criteria for assessment, including recommendations on how to evaluate these criteria in current investments and new acquisitions.
Thanks Alexander. To find out more about the MSc/PGD REIF take a look at our webpage:
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